A contract worker from the US has been fined $1,000 for setting off fireworks in St George’s without a licence.

Brian Lemmon, 50, appeared at Magistrates’ Court this morning, where he admitted two counts of unlawfully using an explosive.

The network specialist committed the first offence on the evening of December 11 — a day after landing in Bermuda from Connecticut.

He repeated the same crime the following evening but then called police to confess he was to blame after a neighbour showed him a newspaper report about local residents calling police in the mistaken belief that they were hearing gunfire.

Prosecutor Nicole Smith told the court that Lemmon arrived on the Island for the first time on December 10 and is due to work here for Global Network Ltd until March, staying at Pieces of Eight Lane in St George’s.

Ms Smith said on December 11 he set off an aerial rocket at that residence, illuminating a set of fireworks in the sky. “Residents subsequently reported to police that they heard what appeared to be gun shots fired in the area,” she said.

The next night, at about 9pm, Lemmon fired another aerial rocket. Ms Smith said that after his neighbour alerted him to the news article, he “realised his actions had caused serious concern in the community” and called police. He was arrested on December 13.

Lemmon told the court he had no idea that setting off fireworks without a licence was illegal in Bermuda.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I just want to do the right thing. I want to apologise to the parish and the police department.”

Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo said the offences were a serious matter, especially in light of recent gun crime, but praised the defendant for immediately admitting his culpability.

Lemmon could have faced up to 12 months in jail but was instead fined $500 for each offence, which he agreed to pay immediately.